In the presence of Marnie’s parents and two friends, John and Marnie exchanged beautiful vows and heartfelt words outside of the Salish Lodge this past Saturday afternoon.

I love The Salish Lodge for a tiny and intimate wedding ceremony. For John and Marnie, it provided a beautiful backdrop for a reverent ceremony and an easy and elegant celebration.

If you are planning an elopement or small/intimate ceremony, take a peek at a venue such as the Salish Lodge, that offers indoor/outdoor options for ceremony as well as a celebration atmosphere for a terrific meal and cozy overnight stay.

A wedding ceremony is a celebration of courage, perseverance, great love and devotion, anticipation, acceptance and so much more.

Jason and Monica traveled from Texas to stay at The Salish Lodge and to be married at Snoqualmie Peak Park. It was a picturesque evening and I love this moment captured by Photographer Jenny Goldberg – sometimes there are just no words.

Larry and Jennifer wanted a tiny and intimate ceremony – they got it AND by the time things were said and done, 20 happy family and friends were on hand to witness their lifetime moment.

Married this past Saturday, March 9th, at The Salish Lodge and overlooking Snoqualmie Falls, Larry and Jennifer “eloped” from the Lakewood area to be married at this gorgeous place in nature.

Elopements come in all shapes and sizes. For me, it is not about the size of an elopement guest list – rather, it is about creating a beautiful and memorable moment for two loving people – with a little fun, lots of joy and a few sacred moments!

And here you are, loving each other, and with the enormous intention and challenge to be married, to get married, during Covid 19.

So, here’s the deal on how to do this, short and sweet, for you, in Washington State.

I am writing this UPDATE POST on May 14th, and we’re in the middle of Phase 1.

As a State, we need to get to Phase 2 in order to have a gathering of 5 people or less, which allows for a small and intimate wedding ceremony, with social distancing measures. At least, this is what I am interpreting, with others in our wedding community, from the Governor’s Covid 19 directives.

In a perfect world, Phase 2 will commence on June 1st. Of course, the State may push this date back, depending on our numbers.

If you are planning a small ceremony for June, please consider securing a valid Washington State Marriage License NOW. You are within the 60 day application window, and because Offices are not open to in-person visits, it takes extra time to get your marriage license documents, via on-line and snail mail.

For all of this you will need a valid Washington State Marriage License, 2 witnesses over the age of 18, a location/venue for your ceremony and someone lovely to marry you (hopefully me).

So, how do you get married during Covid 19, if you live in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Snohomish, any part of the Puget Sound or Washington State?

You don’t.

Under the Governor’s order in Washington State, ‘no weddings’ right now.

Yes, the Marriage License offices are issuing marriage licenses and they are recording them. This is what they do.

The best guidance on what is allowed during the State’s shelter-in-place order (from the Governor’s Office and King County Executive’s office) is no weddings.

So, if the two of you desire to get all hitched up, and you live anywhere in Washington State, or want to travel here to do so, what do you do?

You wait until May 4th for updated guidance, when the Governor hopefully lifts the ‘no wedding order.’ My hope is that this ‘no wedding’ restriction will be lifted, allowing a roll-out of small weddings (5 people: Officiant, Couple and 2 Witnesses).

And with this, if you don’t yet have a valid Washington State Marriage License, you can secure one from any County. The offices aren’t open right now, so you have to do everything the old fashioned way.

If you have questions, if I can be helpful. I am here. Once the stay-at-home order is lifted, I am fully available to officiate for you…